Andrew Weber-US Presswire

That new guy might be Kevin Kolb, or it might be a quarterback in this draft class. I’m almost certain the Bills are going to select a QB with their second-round draft choice, and they have worked out just about every quarterback in the 2013 NFL Draft class that has a sniff at becoming a franchise QB. The connection between Marrone and former Syracuse Orange star QB Ryan Nassib is strong, but that doesn’t mean the Bills are guaranteed to draft Nassib in the second- it’s just very likely. If Matt Barkley ends up within their grasp there, then I think the Bills will take him and move towards a West Coast offense with two WCO QBs in Kolb and Barkley.

Now Jackson’s position in all of this is interesting. Most people on the Bills beat believe that he will most likely end up as the third-string QB all the way behind Kolb and a rookie QB. Jackson is another WCO QB, so it seems like the Bills are going to move towards that direction.

So what does Buddy Nix think? Tarvaris Jackson told the Buffalo News today that Nix was high on Jackson and actually sold staying with the Bills to Jackson. This shows how much Nix doesn’t like Ryan Fitzpatrick, how much he wants to move towards a new offense, and how much he respects Jackson as a backup QB. Heck, he might end up being their most stabilizing presence at the position as far as experience goes (Jackson is 29).

Here is what Tarvaris Jackson told the Buffalo News, ”Before I left I had been talking to Buddy Nix and that was really one of the main reasons why I came back. Just talking to him it seemed they really wanted me to come back. That was No. 1 on my list. It was a no-brainer. … It was just talking about how things played out and it’ll be a little different this year. I’ll get a chance to compete, so that’s all you can ask for.”

Another reason why Jackson chose to stay? Continuity. The man has been signed and released so often in his career that being able to stick around with the Bills for a couple more seasons is something that Jackson likely welcomes. We’ll see just how long he sticks around in Buffalo.

You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter for more NFL updates and analysis @SorianoJoe.

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

In Don Banks’s 2013 NFL Mock Draft published on Sports Illustrated, the Buffalo Bills select USC Trojans standout Matt Barkley to be the next franchise QB-hopeful in Buffalo. Geno Smith is regarded as the best quarterback in this draft class for good reason, but he was not available for the Bills; Banks had the Jacksonville Jaguars yanking Smith off the board with the second pick.

Barkley is an interesting consolation prize, and he has worked his way back into being viewed as the second-best QB in this draft class. The Bills would have to morph their offense into a West Coast Offense by selecting Barkley, but it’s worth the switch in scheme if they believe Barkley can be “the guy”. Barkley and Smith are the only two safe selections at the quarterback position in this draft class, and Barkley has terrific short-range accuracy to combat arm strength deficiencies and other criticisms of his game.

The Bills will almost certainly take a quarterback in one of the first two rounds of the 2013 NFL Draft with the intention of making that QB “the guy”, because their biggest need comes at the biggest position. Ryan Nassib and Doug Marrone have the strongest links, but Nassib tends to get overrated. But if the Bills do believe that Nassib can be the guy, then he’s worth a second (maybe even a first) round choice spent.

Barkley’s big question is arm strength, and Banks notes that his draft stock will rise if the QB quells those concerns with a big pro day performance at USC today.

You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter for more NFL updates and analysis @SorianoJoe.

Dec 30, 2012; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) drops back to pass as New York Jets outside linebacker Calvin Pace (97) rushes and tight end Lee Smith (85) blocks during the second half at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Bills beat the Jets 28-9. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Wasn’t really much of a surprise considering the lack of competition when it came to the Quarterback position in Buffalo, but what do they do now?

The Buffalo Bills have decided to cut ties with Ryan Fitzpatrick after 4 seasons and in my opinion, it is about time.

He did show signs of life as he had good games but the reality of the Buffalo Bills over shadowed those performances as they continued to struggle.

This team needs to make changes all around and this is the first step in the right direction. So with this move being made, who do they bring in? Now that the market is open and players are ready to sign, a decision could be made within the next 24 hours.

With a move like this, you would think the Buffalo Bills are  looking to draft a quarterback in the 1st round of the draft. They could either go with Matt Barkley out of USC or Geno Smith out of West Virginia. Either way one of these kids, plus more additions to this team should give Buffalo Bills fans some hope for the future.

It is time for a change in Buffalo and that change could come in April. Unless they decide to roll with another veteran quarterback.

November 24, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley (7) before being introduced at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Barkley sat out the NFL Scouting Combine as he recovers from an injury, but he expects to be ready in time for USC’s pro day where we will show off his talents. Lane Kiffin, his head coach at USC, has come out to show his support for Matt Barkley and guarantee any team that drafts him will have a franchise quarterback in their midst.

Matt Barkley went on The Mighty 1090 in San Diego to give an update on his injury.

“It’s been a long, patient journey, but I’ve had some time to recover now and I’ve been throwing quite some time at this point, to where I’ve been throwing this week [with] great velocity, great trajectory,” Barkley said, via Sports Radio Interviews. “It’s starting to feel back to normal. No doubt, by the time pro day comes around, it’ll be better than it was before. I think I’ll have a stronger arm than I did.”

A stronger arm after injury? That’s a bold and confident statement. But the strong arm isn’t the only quality he brings to his future NFL team.

“I’ve kind of learned to lead differently,” Barkley said. “I think, naturally, I’m a leader by example, a guy who will get there early and do things right and guys will see that. … But I’ve learned to be a vocal leader, get in the guy’s face if you have to, fire them up. … At the same time, you’ve got to know when to take a guy off to the side and talk to them one-on-one because that’s how they learn best.”

But none of the draft process seems to be getting to the young quarterback.

“I haven’t really found any of this to be stressful at all. I think you really only get anxious and nervous when you’re unprepared or you don’t trust in your future. Yeah, there are some unknowns — what’s going to happen, where I’m going to end up — but I’ve really just savored this whole process just in terms of the interviews and rehab, knowing that I’ll end up where I need to be.”

Feb 22, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley speaks at a press conference during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

As if anyone takes the fact that Lane Kiffin vouching for anything brings any credibility, he’s vouching for Matt Barkley. Kiffin is insistent that Barkley can succeed in the NFL.

“I think he’s going to be a great starting quarterback in the NFL, and the film shows it,” Kiffin said, via ESPN LA. “The plays he makes, all the throws he’s made here, the leadership qualities.”

At one point in time USC was considered a factory for NFL quarterbacks starting with Carson Palmer, than Matt Leinart and Mark Sanchez. However as they continue to disappoint in the NFL that mystique has faded and has some avoiding USC quarterbacks, almost as if they’re a suckers pick, fool’s gold even.

But that didn’t stop Kiffin from comparing Barkley to former USC greats at the position.

“I’ve said this before: If Matt Barkley had the defense that Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer had, Matt Barkley would have won the Heisman Trophy just like they did. He would have had the winning records they had.”

Matt Barkley however isn’t as quick to compare himself to those other USC quarterbacks.

“There have been great USC quarterbacks [who have done] some things in the NFL,” Barkley said. “I know my case, my situation and my story is different than all those other guys. I don’t think you can put everyone in the same mold. I know what I’m capable of, and I wouldn’t be so quick to put a mold around me.”

Feb 22, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley speaks at a press conference during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Many people think of Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning as one of the most liked players in the NFL. He is wildly popular and has had some of the best ads in history of sports endorsements. Who can forget the one where he cheers people on at their normal jobs, “you’re my favorite accountant!”

But young USC quarterback has said he learned a valuable lesson from Peyton Manning in an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Peter King.

“I learned a valuable lesson from Peyton, about sometimes you have to be a dick,” he said.

What he is referring to is Peyton Manning’s leadership and apparent dominance over his teammates. Though you have to wonder if he really needs to assert himself in his leadership or if Peyton Manning is really just that well respected.

But like other great athletes Manning expects the best out of his teammates.

“Doing what is asked is not enough to win in the NFL, I know that,” he said. “You’ve got to do more. And I intend to.”

What he is talking about of course is the offseason work out of teammates. With the decline of USC quarterbacks there is a slight hesitation about him. He is looking to dispel those rumors and change the trend. And following the Manning model of leadership he intends to make sure everyone is working out during the offseason, whether they want to or not.

“As I start my NFL career, I really want to set the record straight on a few things,” Barkley said.  “People look at me like I’m some Cali boy, but I’m not that way — I don’t even know how to surf.  I’m a football junkie.  I’m football, 24/7.”

With the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine just days away, people have been anticipating their respective teams to watch for positions of need, and albeit this isn’t a very strong class, there will be plenty of teams watching the QBs work out at Lucas Oil Stadium. Now, within that sentence is the fact that this QB draft class is not a very deep one, easily the weakest in recent years. That doesn’t mean there won’t be top 5 talent in this position, but as you’re about to see, it’s virtually one player, than everybody else. So, to kick off our countdown, the 1st QB to watch for, is:

Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia – He’s been a force in the collegiate ranks these past 2 seasons, earning himself a few mentions of Heisman Trophy candidate from time to time. What we have in this player, is a larger, more accurate version of Michael Vick, who once upon a time was the top overall draft pick for the Atlanta Falcons. Smith has a fairly strong arm that can squeeze the ball into tight spaces, which is key in the NFL. What he also has, is speed, a lot of speed and mobility. The NFL is experiencing an evolution at the QB position, where teams are coveting athletic QBs that can turn a busted play into a highlight play, with recent as well as somewhat comparable examples being Cam Newton (Panthers) and RG3 (Redskins). What I do find concerning, though, is when he played the tougher teams on his rather easy schedule, such as Texas Tech and Kansas State, he simply wasn’t as special as he normally would be against other teams. But, he certainly played like a legend at other times, most notably his historic performance against Baylor, where he went 45-of-51 for 656 yards and 8 TDs, with 0 ints. Overall, he’s perhaps the most gifted QB in this draft class, and he’s receiving very high grades from around the league. This, is your top overall pick candidate from the QB class of 2013.

Matt Barkley, QB, USC – Prior to this season, this Trojan alumni was widely considered to be the best QB in this year’s draft class. After this season, he’s second if not third best depending on who you ask or believe. He simply did not have a good season, and is a classic example of what could happen to your draft stock if you receive a top overall grade during your junior year, and decide to stay for your senior season (which I respect). He was under consistent pressure as the OL was resemblant to a car wreck. They really missed their former LT Matt Kahlil, who’s now developing quite nicely with the Minnesota Vikings. Now, with all the negatives brought first, comes the positives. First off, he’s not a QB who’s exceptionally gifted with athleticism unlike a lot of his counterparts, instead, he knows how to play the position from the pocket in an NFL style of offense, which is huge for an inbound rookie. He’s also shown good throwing mechanics, and has shown patience as well as good timing in his throws. His greatest strength, is his overall decision making. Yes, he did again have a very rough senior season, where one will be quick to point out his decision making as a flaw, but I instead look at his overall body of work, where he simply played like a QB who’s ready for the NFL. He may not be top 5 or even top 10 this year, yet make no mistake, he’s got the potential.

Mike Glennon, QB, N.C. State – His stock is on the rise, as he comes in with a reportedly big size (6’6″ 220 lbs) and has an absolute rocket for an arm. His pocket presence is also one that’s admirable, where he is able to move the pocket and avoid potential sacks, which was demonstrated before a large audience in his upset win over the FSU Seminoles. Of course, with the positives, comes the negatives, and his footwork will be heavily critiqued and criticized by a ton of draftniks everywhere. His inconsistency is a serious red flag, as when he would play like a top 5 overall pick at times, he would play like a scrub at others. He can not afford to rely on the large windows in college to pick defenses apart. When you have bad footwork, topped with inconsistency, then you have accuracy problems. It’s not like he’s never been on the money, he just needs to get more consistent with his decisions as well as throws. He’s a work in progress, but in the right environment, he could shine.

Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse – This player has already received some pretty high marks by a few NFL teams needing QBs, most notably this nugget I found while researching into QB prospects. He played with poise, intelligence, and accuracy while playing for the Orange. He also did most of this on his own, where he did not have a really dependable supporting cast to aid him during key moments of the game. What I like best about him, is that he’s the least rattled QB under pressure in this group of QBs. He’ll take a nasty shot, only to get up, and play as cool as a cucumber the very next series of plays. If there could be anything that has managed to lower his draft grade, it’s supposedly his throwing motion. Something I discovered while looking around, was there is a perception of him having a strange “hitch” in his overall motion. I hardly noticed it when I watched a few of his games, but then again I’m not an NFL scout. Also, he didn’t have a particularly strong performance during the Senior Bowl, which always hurts a player’s stock prior to the draft. He of course could skyrocket up the boards if he has an incredibly strong combine, but as of right now, he’s my 4th player on this list. But, he’s definitely earned the right to be considered a sleeper as well.

Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas – Good Lord, the past season for the Razorbacks could not have gone any worse in 2012, where everything seemed to go so wrong after such a promising performance the season prior to this disappointing year. To top it off, Tyler Wilson was playing injured this past season, where he missed the game against the eventual champion Alabama Crimson Tide. Yet, there was some light this past season, and most of it shined when Tyler Wilson stepped onto the field. He turned in a few good games after his injury, and before last season, he showed an enormous amount of potential as a QB destined for the NFL. I’m not ready to compare him to Ryan Mallett, but he’s definitely someone I’d expect a QB needy team to eyeball after the 1st round, if they haven’t already chosen a QB prior to the second or third round. His arm strength is not something to brag about, though, although that’s expected to be a result of a collarbone injury. Speaking of which, that is a significant reason why he may not see himself chosen in the 1st round, as collarbone injuries are not easy to come back from while playing as a QB. His smallish hands were brought up from time to time, which is supposedly a reason why Sam Bradford fumbles the ball a lot, but I’m not really convinced that “small hands” warrants a real hit on his resume. What does warrant a hit, though, is he was a real brash risk taker, that would make poor choices at the absolute worst time. Again, considering the circumstances he was playing under, it’s not a real surprise as to why he took so many risks, he simply went out and played ball. If you want to see a first round calibre player picked up in the mid rounds of the draft, and see him able to compete from day one, then here he is.

I am certain there will be other players that fans wanted to see included in this top 5, including but not limited to E.J. Manuel, Tyler Bray, Landry Jones, and even Collin Klein among others, and as always, feel free to comment on who you think deserves to be in this list. Bottom line, in this weak draft class, I believe these are the best 5 players available in the most important position to play in the NFL.

November 17, 2012; Pasadena, CA, USA; USC Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley (7) leaves the game in the fourth quarter against the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl. UCLA won 38-28. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

USC quarterback Matt Barkley is the only old school “NFL style” quarterback in the NFL Draft. I say old school because Geno Smith is more the mold of the new wave of NFL quarterbacks like Colin Kaepernick, Russell Wilson, Cam Newton, and Robert Griffin III.

But he will not be throwing at the NFL Scouting Combine this year, but will throw at the USC Pro Day.

Barkley suffered a separated shoulder in the 2012 season and this is likely the reason behind the decision. The USC Pro Day is scheduled for March 27th, so it gets him another month to recover.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported this and gave the following synopsis of his medical situation:

Doctors who have examined and worked with Barkley are convinced he has made outstanding progress. He already has been cleared to throw at USC’s Pro Day on March 27. Barkley’s shoulder is said to be 85-90 percent recovered.

Barkley recently moved his rehab and training sessions to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. He had spent the past month in Birmingham, Ala., rehabbing his shoulder under the supervision of doctors Jim Andrews and Lyle Cain, and Physical Therapist Kevin Wilk.

He will still attend the NFL Scouting Combine and could still decided to run and jump. He will most likely at least be available for NFL teams to interview.

New to NFLSpinZone.com is the latest feature, “Scout’s Corner.”

Every week on Tuesday and Thursday, we will focus on one of the draft eligible prospects for the 2013 NFL Draft. At season’s end, we will have compiled a healthy stockpile of scouting reports for you all to use as you gear up for the draft. Scout’s Corner will feature in-depth scouting report that will be updated with regularity. You will be able to find all of the scouting reports in one spot by just CLICKING HERE.

Nov 26, 2011; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley (7) directs the Spirit of Troy marching band in a rendition of Tribute to Troy after the game against the UCLA Bruins at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC defeated UCLA 50-0. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

If you would like to request a scouting report, simply send a reply to me on Twitter at @jnsanchez.

Today, we will take a look at one the top quarterbacks in the upcoming draft class — USC’s Matt Barkley. Barkley was talked about as a potential top ten pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, but he opted to return to Southern Cal for another season with an all-star cast of wide receivers.

The additional year of experience running the USC offense should only benefit Barkley as he prepares for his NFL career.

NOTE: All measurables taken from Barkley’s athletic bio.

Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 230-pounds

Strengths: There is no doubt about it. Barkley is a very poised and accurate quarterback, who has shown to have the intelligence you want in your franchise signal-caller. His mechanics are solid and he demands his teammates respect in the huddle.

Barkley projects very well into a west coast offense and his experience running a pro-system at USC will only benefit him in the long run. Many teams will look at a quarterback’s intangibles and accuracy while deciding if he is a top prospect. Barkley is off the charts in those regards.

Weaknesses: A big knock on Barkley is his average arm strength. He will not blow you away by having a cannon of an arm, but a strong arm is not the only attribute that translates to success at the next level. Barkley often times does not get enough zip on his throws. Another question surrounding Barkley is whether or not his wide receivers make him appear better than he really is.

On top of the arm strength concerns, Barkley is not a stand out athlete. He gets the job done in the pocket, but he will not impress you with world class athleticism.

Overview: Despite his mediocre arm strength, Barkley still grades out very high and should go in the top half of round one. His mechanics, accuracy and intelligence should make up for the fact that he does not have a cannon attached to his shoulder. Barkley may not be a prospect the caliber of Andrew Luck, but he is a very good signal-caller that could work under center in the NFL for many years.

As mentioned earlier, his best fit appears to be in a west coast offense.

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Apr 14, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley (7) throws a pass in the 2012 spring game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

This is You Heard It Here First – where thinking outside the box and predicting the future is a social pastime.

Around the NFL there are a number of quarterbacks in precarious situations but also many quarterbacks in good situations who shouldn’t be. Every year we see a fairly high turnover of starting quarterbacks in the league despite but due in part to the complexity of the position and I believe that 2013 will be no different. One player almost certain to be a starting quarterback next year is USC’s Matt Barkley and you can safely assume that he is an option for every team on this list. To make things a little simpler, let’s go through each of the team’s one by one so you can see why I believe 25% of teams will not have the same starting QB in 2013.

Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals quarterback situation has been in flux ever since Kurt Warner retired and it is no closer now with the team’s decision to retain Kevin Kolb who looked truly woeful in 2011. With the team placing even more emphasis on the passing game in the form of first round pick Michael Floyd, Kolb must step up in 2012. In my opinion I don’t think he’ll manage it. Come 2013 I believe either John Skelton will be the starter or some other player currently not with the team.

Houston Texans

A couple of months ago I wrote an article on how I thought the Houston Texans might part ways with Matt Schaub and from the research I have done since this is still a distinct possibility. With the salary cap issues the Texans will have next year it is unlikely they could afford to put a franchise tag on Schaub and it would take some VERY creative accounting to pay hm what he deserves. When you take into account the contract just given to running back Arian Foster and the fact that usually Kubiak and the Texans prefer not to pay quarterbacks big money for the time being I am going to say Schaub ends up elsewhere.

So where does this leave Houston in 2013? T.J. Yates performed admirably in Schaub’s absence last year and with another year of coaching he could be a legitimate option for this team should they choose not to draft or sign a big name quarterback. I would also expect the team to retain rookie Case Keenum of the University of Houston. My other expectation is that the Texans would pick up a veteran free agent to compete with Yates.

Miami Dolphins

No surprises here – the Dolphins quarterback situation is one obviously in flux right now. There are reports that rookie Ryan Tannehill could start for this team to start the 2012 season but I have serious doubts about this particularly as I didn’t think Tannehill should be a top 10 NFL draft pick in the first place. For my mind the best option for Miami in 2012 is former Carolina Panthers QB Matt Moore who was actually pretty good for Miami last season after taking over for incumbent Chad Henne. I give Moore every chance to win the QB battle this preseason and he’s talented enough that he may keep the job for most if not all of the season.

With all that said, I also fully believe that Ryan Tannehill will be the starter in 2013. Truth about the Miami Dolphins is that this team still needs work and they’re unlikely to perform this season which will see a ground-swell of support build to give Tannehill his opportunity. I expect Moore will either be traded or cut following this season – you did great for us kid but we’ve had enough of ya so bye. Tough break for Moore who deserves a lot better but that’s the nature of the NFL sometimes. He’ll make a very good FA pickup for someone in the 2013 offseason.

New York Jets

I really don’t want to write about this next situation basically because I have absolutely no faith in either of the main quarterbacks on the Jets roster. Let’s be honest – Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow have both got talent but neither is really an NFL-quality quarterback. Sanchez got his contract extension this offseason as a rather empty show of support from Jets management but I can see absolutely no way that Tebow stays out of the starting job for longer than one season. Mark Sanchez has been awful at the NFL level and while he has shown flashes of brilliance there’s just not enough there. Watch him get traded this offseason.

As for Tebow, he’s no great shakes as a quarterback either but at least he knows how to make plays happen. When you watched Denver last year it was obvious that Tebow contributed to a bunch of victories. What most people appear blind to is that his supporting cast helped him a lot more than Tebow’s fans are willing to accept. Willis McGahee may not be as good as he once was but he had a fantastic season supporting his young quarterback and I truly believe that it is McGahee and not Tebow who deserves the most credit for the success of the Broncos in 2011. So color me sceptical but while I see Tebow as the Jets starter next season I don’t see anything to this except empty hype.

Oakland Raiders

The Raiders are a mess. Hard to say anything else about this team at the moment. The death of Al Davis left a hole in this organisation and I was truly shocked, appalled and disgusted by the actions of former Raiders head coach Hue Jackson when he took advantage of the situation to leverage a massive and irresponsible trade for former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer that gutted the franchise and ultimately resulted in Jackson’s departure. I won’t go into that aspect too much further except to say that Jackson should never have acted the way he did in helping both Palmer who he was associated with at USC and the Bengals who he had worked with previously.

Palmer may have had an offseason to prepare but when you look at the tape of his performance in 2012 it was just plain bad. Poor decision making was his biggest weakness as he failed to read defenses which resulted in a good deal of the interceptions he was charged with. He was still developing his chemistry with the Oakland receivers I know but the decision making was so poor that this can’t be blamed on the receivers or Palmer’s lack of time. When you factor in that Palmer is owed a huge contract that is due to pay him $13 million in 2013 I see no way that Palmer is on the roster after this season.

Seattle Seahawks

Some of you will be surprised to see Seattle on this list but this is a reflection of the fact I think the Matt Flynn experiment might not work. Is he talented? Yes. Is he worthy of a starting spot in the NFL? As of right now – absolutely. Is he an NFL caliber starting quarterback? On that note I have my doubts and on a Seattle Seahawks team that lacks a truly talented receiving corps – unlike what Flynn had in Green Bay – he may struggle.

There are so many ways the Seahawks could go but I am going to suggest a slightly unconventional route – I’d throw Russell Wilson in there and give him a shot. When it comes down to it this team could go out and get themselves another quarterback. They could even go for Matt Barkley who will join the NFL from Pete Carroll’s old stomping grounds of USC. I’ve been doing a lot of studying up on Russell Wilson these past couple of months and I am surprised to find myself warming to this kid. He may be small and he may be better suited to playing elsewhere on the park but his decision making, accuracy and field awareness and all pretty good. Call me crazy but I like this kid to earn his shot.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Oh dear – this one is going to anger some of you. This is reality people and in the real world a team needs a good or at least capable quarterback to succeed in the NFL. Josh Freeman is neither of these things. He had one good rookie season in which he came out and surprised us all with his ability but his true colors shone last year as he failed miserably as both a quarterback and as a leader on a young team. Freeman might be a starting caliber quarterback one day – I doubt it – but right now he needs to step back and let someone else take the reins. I expect the Bucs to either draft another quarterback or go out and get themselves a solid veteran because Josh Freeman needs more time to grow and mature.

Tennessee Titans

This is easily the most predictable change on this list because I am 100% certain that Matt Hasselbeck will start the 2012 season as the Titans starting quarterback. This is one of those situations where you have a high quality veteran who’s getting old and may not have much left being replaced by the young buck drafted to replace him. There may have been knocks on Jake Locker going into the 2011 NFL Draft but he fully deserved to go as high as he did and I believe he has a very bright future – which includes starting the 2013 NFL season as the starting quarterback for the Tennessee Titans.

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25% of NFL teams switching quarterbacks come 2013? I believe it could happen. When it does I won’t be surprised and now neither will you because You Heard It Here First.

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